Kenyan musician Hubert Nakitare, popularly known as Nonini, has taken legal action against Nairobi-based car dealership CarSoko for allegedly using his hit song Kadhaa in a promotional video without authorisation.

In a formal complaint issued through his attorney, James T. Makori, Nonini accuses the dealership of copyright infringement after it shared a short advert across its social media platforms—including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram—featuring his music without securing the appropriate licensing.

The promotional video, which showcased a fleet of luxury vehicles, also featured popular social media influencer Isaac Otesa, commonly known as Goliath wa Bungoma.

According to the complaint, the video was published without acquiring a synchronization licence—a legal requirement under Kenya’s Copyright Act Cap 130 when pairing music with visual content.

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“Our client instructs us that his song was synchronized with the visuals without a synchronization licence, hence committing copyright infringement,” read part of the letter.

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The letter further clarified that such licences can only be granted by the composer or publisher of the song.

This isn’t the first time Nonini has pursued legal action over unauthorised use of his music. In 2023, he scored a landmark victory in a Nairobi court after influencer Brian Mutinda and electronics brand Syinix used his song We Kamu in a commercial without permission.

The court awarded Nonini KSh 4 million in damages for the infringement, setting a precedent for intellectual property enforcement in the local creative industry.

In that case, Nonini's legal team successfully argued that the song’s use was substantial and commercial, and therefore did not qualify as fair use.

A pioneer in Kenya’s Genge music scene, Nonini has enjoyed a prolific career, releasing four studio albums and producing over 25 music videos—a rare achievement among East African urban artists.

Outside of music, Nonini has made significant strides as an entrepreneur, having launched his own clothing line, Nonini Wear, and establishing a video production company called Pro Habo.

He also made history as the first Kenyan musician to produce a feature film, Killer Mmoja.